FCA, short for Fellowship of Christian Athletes, is a student-led group that brings people together to talk about faith and how it connects with the challenges of being a student today. While it was started by athletes, FCA is not exclusively for them— all students are welcome. To get a better view of what FCA is all about, I interviewed Hunter Evans, a fellow FCA member, who has been involved and seen the impact it can have. “I was looking for something where I could connect with people who were going through the same stuff I was, and who also wanted to grow in their faith,” he claimed. Evans believes that FCA is a great place to form “friendships that go beyond the classroom”. Whether you’re an athlete or not, if you’re looking for something real, FCA might just be worth checking out.
While FCA is a great way to bring students together, Evans admitted that there are some challenges in the process of reaching people. “I think a lot of people just don’t know what we do,” he explained. “They hear ‘Christian’ or ‘athlete’ and immediately think they don’t belong, or it doesn’t apply to them, but that’s wrong. It’s really for anyone who wants to find community and have real conversations.” Clearly, FCA aims to include everyone in discussions and activities around faith.
As for future accomplishments, Evans hopes to expand the fellowship and truly impact those involved. “I hope it keeps growing,” he expressed. “Even if someone only comes once, maybe they hear something that sticks with them.” Evans also stated that he is open to the prospect of changing things up a bit. “Some meetings feel repetitive, I would want to see more questions asked by the students,” he explained.
As a fellow member of FCA, it’s more than just a club, it’s more of a family. It’s inviting to all, and it provides a place of comfort to talk about anything and receive good advice. I personally joined because of my faith and friends. I have been going for three years now and have decided to step up and become a leader. The messages the student leaders give are truly powerful. It’s amazing to see kids my age step up and speak to a vast crowd with such boldness. I enjoy hearing others talk about the same obstacles this world throws at me; they talk about overcoming similar struggles with such courage and faith. Also, pastors and youth pastors from local churches speak at events, and their sermons are always inspiring. We also have guest speakers (who are missionaries) that travel all around the world and come here to speak and share their experiences. It really opens my eyes up to how others live, and it makes me feel grateful for everything I have. Another nice part about FCA is that, at the end of each meeting, members can always talk to the leaders with honesty and full vulnerability without being judged. We can ask them questions about anything and prayer requests as well and receive valuable advice or simple comfort in response.
FCA is not just another club or organization but rather a family. It opens up questions students may have and inspires them to live with a purpose and serve others. FCA continues to reach many people and truly impact lives through faith and teamwork.